The Epitome of Folly

August 12

Some people feel that humankind is meritorious. Their idea is that goodness is the dominant trait of our species. Several thousand years of history must be ignored in order to arrive at such a conclusion, but through juggling of archaeological and historical data, as well as defying common sense, an argument toward that end can be put forth.

Espousing such a presumption requires also that one totally dismiss the cross of Christ as unnecessary. If, indeed, man is good, he hardly needs a savior. If he isn’t in the quagmire of sin and he isn’t incapable of extricating himself from it, he doesn’t need a sinless God/Man to extend His hand to lift him out of the miry clay.

This is at total variance with the Word of the Lord in the matter. Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatians 1:3-5, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present, evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to Whom be glory forever and ever.” Paul establishes in this passage that God’s grace and peace are extended to us when Jesus rescues us from sin.

As we contemplate the virtual lack of grace and peace among a preponderance of humanity, perhaps we realize that the dearth of these virtues is attributable to man’s belief that his own goodness does not require him to believe in Christ’s substitutionary death that washes him clean of sin and makes him new. If man’s goodness is sufficient, Christ means nothing. Coming to such a conclusion is the epitome of folly—and the loss it entails is eternal.